Monday, March 15, 2021

Surviving Winter

 Winter in New England is no joke.
It's cold and dark and long.
So long.
But it's also restful and quiet and incredibly beautiful.
When I saw this view at the top of Burke Mountain I stood in awe. 
I felt like I had snuck inside Narnia.
I never knew winter could be so magical. 
C.S Lewis wisely says, “Everyone begins as a child by liking weather. You learn the art of disliking it as you grow up. Noticed it on a snowy day? The grown-ups are all going about with long faces, but look at the children – and the dogs? They know what snow’s made for.”
Zion thinks the snow is the best.
The kids and I have all loved the snow too.
It really is so fun.
So many people told us that surviving winter was all about getting the right gear 
and getting out an enjoying winter activities. 
I think they were right!
LL Bean has become one of our new favorite stores.
Going with the long down jacket was 100% the right move.
It's basically like wearing a down comforter.  

We also got a few products from Lands End (thanks to a huge sale)
 and have been really impressed.
Hudson is always cold so we bought him the warmest jacket they had 
and he's been toasty all winter. 
Bogs are our BFF.
They are easy to slip on and off, keep your feet super warm and can handle the snow, mud and water. 
Aaron and I also got some Bean Boots and I really like them too.
Did you know mittens are warmer then gloves?
I didn't either
but Bernie did. 
They are also easier to put on
so it's a win win.
The kids made their first snowman!
Does making a snowman count as P.E. and art?
Hudson votes yes.
We also tried snowshoeing for the first time.
I'm a fan.
We have 2 free ice skating rinks within 5 minutes from our house. Wes and Maddie were both big rollerbladers back in CA 
and transferred over to skates like a champ.
I think they asked me every day to take them skating.
On Sundays we would meet some friends at the rink after church 
and the kids would play a game of pick up hockey. 
They loved playing with the big kids.
Wesley fell in love this winter.
With snowboarding.We joined a learn to ski program at some local mountains.
The kids received a one hour lesson every week
(Aaron and I got to be chaperone's)
and then we got to stay and ski for the rest of the day.
We all had so much fun and loved that we could do it together.
I think skiing once a week helped keep us all sane. These guys caught on so fast.
I didn't even know what a balaclava was 6 months ago
but I do now! 
I love these super cozy ones from Turtle.Winter still feels foreign and cold but it's a big part of where we live 
so I'm doing my best to embrace it.
I can honestly say I have loved my first real winter but enough is enough.
Now I'm counting down the days to spring.

I probably should end here 
but I found these thoughts from Spurgeon on winter and had to include it. 
I'll probably want to read it next year. 

Scripture: “Thou hast made summer and winter.” (Psalm 74:17)

Spurgeon: “My soul begins this wintry month with thy God. The cold snows and the piercing winds all remind thee that He keeps His covenant with day and night, and tend to assure thee that He will also keep that glorious covenant which He has made with thee in the person of Christ Jesus. He who is true to His Word in the revolutions of the seasons of this poor sin-polluted world, will not prove unfaithful in His dealings with His own well-beloved Son.

Winter in the soul is by no means a comfortable season, and if it be upon thee just now it will be very painful to thee: but there is this comfort, namely, that the Lord makes it. He sends the sharp blasts of adversity to nip the buds of expectation: He scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes over the once verdant meadows of our joy: He casteth forth his ice like morsels freezing the streams of our delight. He does it all, He is the great Winter King, and rules in the realms of frost, and therefore thou canst not murmur. Losses, crosses, heaviness, sickness, poverty, and a thousand other ills, are of the Lord’s sending, and come to us with wise design. Frost kills noxious insects, and put a bound to raging diseases; they break up the clods, and sweeten the soil. O that such good results would always follow our winters of affliction!

How we prize the fire just now! How pleasant is its cheerful glow! Let us in the same manner prize our Lord, who is the constant source of warmth and comfort in every time of trouble. Let us draw night to Him, and in Him find joy and peace in believing. Let us wrap ourselves in the warm garments of His promises, and go forth to labours which befit the season, for it were ill to be as the sluggard who will not plough by reason of the cold; for he shall beg in summer and have nothing.” 




 

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Meet Zion

 Hi everyone!

This is Maddie (Sellars kid number 3) and today I’m guest writing on the blog to tell you some good news.

We finally got a black lab puppy!
His full name is Zion National Bark Sellars
but we usually call him "Zion" or "Zi" for short.
Zi was a big ball of black fluff when we brought him home
but he didn't stay small for long.
He loves to go on car rides with us
especially when the ride leads to a hike.
He loves eating every stick he can find.
(He so dark it's sometimes hard to see him in pictures. He's like a black ninja)
He spends most of his day sleeping,
(and sneaking onto the couch when we aren't looking)
getting dirty,
eating stuff he's not supposed to
and being cuddled.
He also loves to eat and play in the snow.
He even tries to sled with us.
Puppy training is hard but Zion is worth it.
He is a great pup.
He's lazy, fun, and cute.
After 2 tries we got the perfect dog (no offense Cali and Roxy).
He's my Zion who I love


Tuesday, October 13, 2020

We moved!

My favorite readers (A.K.A. my kids) 
keep reminding me that I need to tell you some big news...
We moved!
to Vermont!
We packed and packed
(seriously you don't know how much stuff you have until you have to have to pack it all)
and witnessed the Lord work a miracle when it all barely fit into our moving truck.
Thank you Jesus!
Then we said a lot of tearful 
"see ya laters".
It was so hard to leave our church, friends, the kids school and neighbors 
and extra hard to leave our family.
We said our final farewell to California and hit to road to Vermont.
You know we love a good road trip so we took a couple of weeks to make the trek across country
hitting as many National Parks as we could on the way.
How many Sellars can you spot?

We went to lakes, forests, deserts,
canyons and a few times even a hotel pool (which is hard to find in Covid).
We spent A LOT of time in the car
but when we got out we climbed,
and explored
and jumped. 
And then we got back in the car and drove some more. 

We also yelped the best places in each new city and ate. A lot. 
That's one of our favorite parts of visiting new places. 
Any other foodies out there?!

Rocky Mountain National Park lived up to all the hype.
It was incredible. 
These 4 ran around and climbed and acted like kids that had been caged up for way too long.
It was the first time, in a long time, they could just run and be free.
We all soaked up God's beautiful creation and the fresh air. 
One blessing that has come out of Covid quarantine is the strengthened bond these guys have with each other. 
It's so sweet to see their friendship.
Don't get me wrong, they still drive each other crazy at times
 but I know they will grow up thankful for one another.  
We also bought a couple $10 Walmart fishing poles and caught a ton of trout!
This little fisherwoman was begging to fish every day.
Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky
The beach in South Carolina was beautiful
and I loved the warm water. 
So different than the beach in California.
We also visited family in Tennessee which was a highlight! 
Then we went to Great Smokey Mountain National Park.
The kids wanted to take the Appalachian trial to Vermont but we opted for the car instead.
Maybe one day!
Eventually we made it to Vermont
and have been eating as many maple creemees as possible since then.